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Meet the destructoid Team >>   Matthew Razak
Matthew Razak's blog
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About
Monday reviews aren't on Monday. It's old school, trust me.

OK, so I've been and editor for a while now. I probably should fill this part in a bit more fully.

I've been here a while. In most all likelihood longer than you. I was here when the first cblog post went up, and before. I like to believe I rep Dtoid old school. I fell in love with this community the second the cblogs opened up and posted all that I could as Cowzilla3 (you may remember him as an angry banana). I fell off the radar a bit as I started working for other sites and my time got stretched, but I never left Dtoid and finally, one day, my dreams came true.

Now I'm the Weekend Editor at Dtoid (and sometimes a game reviewer). If you didn't know me before as Cowzilla3, then "Hi! I'm Matt Razak. They let me out of the cage on weekends." I feel I should put the customary Dtoid rocks things here, but you already know that. I'd put my regular posts up below, but I don't have any (yet). Needless to say, I love Destructoid and everyone here.

Big group hug.

I'll see you on the weekends and we can celebrate Hammer Day together.

I also write movie reviews for a living. Sometimes I'll post them here. If you liked my review I would appreciate your kind clickage here. It would be most helpful in feeding the starving African orphans I take care of.
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'District 9' brings humanity to aliens

There is one key thing the best science fiction films have in common, and that is that if you took out the aliens or lasers or spaceships or androids they'd still be compelling stories. Despite all the gadgets and gizmos in science fiction, it's still the story that matters. Two films this summer illustrate this point perfectly: Terminator and District 9. The former lacking any interesting story at all and the latter being a triumph in science fiction storytelling that is rarely seen. It's a little ironic that the film about the survival of humanity has less humanity in it than the film about the survival of the human race, but here we are.

Describing the actual plot of District 9 would partially ruin the film, especially since the marketing guys have done such an amazing job of not letting much of it slip out. Instead the trailers, advertisements and discussions focused on the world that District 9 takes place in, which is all I will describe here. Some 20 years ago an alien ship appears over Johannesburg. The aliens inside are eventually settled into a slum in the South African city and the predictable problems of crime, "race" issues, and violence ensue. There are obviously stark parrellels between the film's premise and current situations in South Africa.

Director Neil Blomkamp, whose future in Hollywood should now be a lock, along with screenwriter Terri Tatchell (not to mention Peter Jackson, the film's producer) have created a world with massive scope. One gets the feeling that we are simply seeing one story in a world that houses thousands, which is probably true since the film is based on Blomkamp's short film Alive in Joburg. The film's interspersing of documentary style and straight action cinema creates a feeling of a world that has layers far beyond what we're seeing. A fictional world, yes, but one that feels absolutely real.

It helps that the film's protagonist , played by newcomer Sharlto Copley, starts off as nothing more than a character that would normally be an opening gag in almost any other film of this size and scope. With a name like Wikus Van De Merwe and a seemingly ridiculous accent he comes across as nothing more than a punch line, but evolves into a real character that few science fiction films ever have. Even more amazing is the supporting cast of "prawns," the aliens who crash landed. There is nothing cheesy about these aliens, nothing fake (and that isn't just in reference to the high quality CGI). Blomkamp has somehow created real aliens. It's impressive and a little creepy at the same time.

It should be noted that part of the reason this world seems so real is that this is not an action movie. Action does show up near the end, and their are very cool alien guns that explode people, but the film's focus is not on them. When the action does pick up its done immensely well, with a sort of gritty style that belies the flying bullets and mech suit... I've said too much.

If you haven't seen the film yet I advise you to not read anything more on it. Head out and let its world open up to you with no expectations. There hasn't been a world or idea in film this intriguing for a long while, but if that isn't what gets your summer movie juices I believe that aforementioned guns that obliterate people should be enough to get you intrigued.



Magic on the screen

Magic. That must be what Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki animate every film they make with. No other animation studio around breathes so much life and beauty into their films. Every hand drawn scene in every film teams with more life than most live action films have in them. This is once again the case in Miyazaki's latest film Ponyo, which practically overflows the screen with creativity and wonder.

Disney, who has been bringing Miyazaki's films out in the US for years now, once again has brought this one over and dubbed it over with big name actors including Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, Lily Tomlin and Cate Blanchett. I'm a strong promoter of watching a film in its original language with subtitles, but if dubbing it over mean that more children get to see Miyazaki's work than it is well worth it. Plus, Disney has done a wonderful job of bringing a subtitled version to their DVD releases, which are the kind of high quality release that very few Japanese animation films sees in the US.

But what about Ponyo itself? It seems that this time Miyazaki's story doesn't quite live up to his work. In fact its almost as if the entire concept was based around what he wanted to draw, which in this case turns out to be not such a bad thing since you could enjoy the film with the sound off it is so stunning. Ponyo (voiced by Noah Lindsey Cyrus) is a little fish with magic powers. She accidentally washes ashore and is saved by Sasuke (Frankie Jonas) and they fall in love. Here father, a man who lives under the sea trying to save it from humans pollution, bring sher back. So she runs away using her ever growing magic to get back to Sasuke, but happens to flood all of the island town he lives on. The entire film seems like a big excuse for the artists to draw fantastic and wondrous sea creatures, not to mention one of the most adorable animated creatures even in the form of Ponyo.

The film tries to tackle issues such as pollution, love and motherhood, but most of it gets lost in some of the more absurd plot points, like the calmness with which everyone seems to act after the world has been flooded. Again, non of this is a complaint. It would have been easy enough to watch this movie without sound or a plot at all and still left the theater entirely happy. It does help that most of the voice acting is top notch, and if you don't stay to listen to the ridiculous closing theme song you'll miss out on some of the best unintentional hilarity in years.

I can't say that Ponyo is my favorite Miyazaki film, but much like Pixar, even my least favorite film of his is a masterpiece. The worlds Miyazaki creates are nothing short of epic, and if you're simply waiting for this to come out on DVD don't. Seeing Ponyo on a big screen is breathtaking, especially the opening ten minutes or so, which could only be described as a work of true art.

(Please give the link in my profile a click so that I may continue my work on saving the albino toucan.)



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I agree with you wholeheartedly about Ponyo. It's a fantastic and truly magical masterpiece of a film even if it is not close to the top of my list of Miyazaki favorites (Laputa and Mononoke tie for first in my eyes). I am sure it may just be due to the crazy way my mind works, but I was really enjoying the way in which Joe Hisaishi's score pays homage to Richard Wagner's "The Ring of the Nibelungen," which seems very justified given the film's fascination with water and Ponyo's other name.

Incidentally, was the dub any good? I was generally pleased with the quality of most of the Miyazaki dubs even though I much prefer original language. However, I was very very distracted and pulled out of "Howl's Moving Castle" (which I think is my least favorite of his films) by Billy Crystal's casting.
I'm definitely excited to see District 9. Consider those Toucans Albinated.
Weekend DOUBLE FEATURE!!!!
saw district 9 already, fucking awesome movie.

I clicked that link again, love yo work :3
I'm so excited for both films. I have yet to see a Miyazaki film in theaters since they always have such damn limited releases. As for District 9, even if the stories are completely different, it seems like Jackson and Blomkamp's way of saying, "Hey Fox, look at this shit! And you didn't want us making the Halo movie, you tards!"
I'm seeing District 9 today. But I will probaly go see Ponyo in a few weeks.
District 9 had a big question mark for me... trailers looked good and I love sci fi, but am getting tired of the current glut of bad sci fi movies.... this will be a definite "must see" for me now.
Thanks for the "non-spoiler" review!
After watching the District 9 short film that the movie is based on, I couldn't be more turned off. As long as someone can tell me that the movie:

1. Is not a ripoff of Alien Nation like the short film indicates
2. Doesn't have aliens in hoodies like the short film
3. Is not a political message.
Was Wilkus' accent actually riduculous or was it just a Jo'burg accent? Thanks for these, I'm definitely going to see District 9, as someone whose parents are both South African.
@Jamontheone:
I'm in the same boat. I get the "Alien Nation" vibe from this too. I am really interested in this movie, but I fucking hate Hollywood politics, so your 3rd point applies to me as well.
I was planning on doing a double feature with both these movies this weekend. I'm even more excited now! By the way, why are they called Monday reviews if ... I kid, I kid.
"Plus, Disney has done a wonderful job of bringing a subtitled version to their DVD releases"

They destroyed Totoro with the Fanning sisters. Next.
I WASN'T AWARE THE TOUCANS WERE IN DANGER, OH GOD (cliiiiiicked)
Can't wait for District 9!!!
Yay! I'm helping save toucans!
Distric 9 sounds fun, but it's released over here till mid october :(
I really want to see Ponyo.
Many people have complained about the story, but I think it's particularly clever. It takes place over the course of two days, and instead of having a strond plot driven narrative, it's episodic, where certain events contribute to thematic and character growth. It actually pays off very well from repeat viewings.

Read my review of Ponyo at http://cfilmc.com/ponyo/

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